Machine for making separable fastener elements



lime 3, 1941.

E. J. CONLIN MACHINE FOR MAKING SEPARABDE FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed Dec. '7, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. J. CONLIN June 3, 1941.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SEPARABLE FASTENER ELEMENTS s SheetS-Sheef; 2

Fil ed 0%.. 7,; 1939 June '3, 1941. I E. J. CONLIN MACHINE FOR MAKING SEPARABLE FASTENEIR ELEMENTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 k Filed Dec. 7, 1959 nnmumml IIIIIIIMEI IIIIIIIII I I I l um I I I I I I I l I I II I III IIIIII June 3, 1941.- E. .1. CONLIN MACHINE FOR MAKING SEPARABLE FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 7., 1939 a Sheets-Sheet s E. J. CONLIN June 3, 1941.

- 2,244,243 MACHINE FOR MAKIN--'$EPARABLE FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed' Dec. '7; 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet e awe/14M W. M w M m Q 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 3, 19 E. J. comm,

' mama FOR MAKING SEPARABLE FASTENER ELEMENTS,

Filed ec 7, 1939 I I lllhlh H 3 Q H ww -i W F lwl h I I I l I l I l I n w wig N? m sembled Patented June 3, 1941 MACHINE FOR e r. SEPARABLE FASTENEB ELEMENTS Edward J. (Jopl New Brit =11.

The G. E. Prentice Mfg. 00.,

conn, assig'nor to New Britain, Conm,

a corporation of Qonnecticut Application December 7, 1939, Serial No. 307,975

(01. ire-r1) 20 Claims.

This invention relates to mac es for use in the manufacture of slide fastener structures and has to do more particularly with machines for making separable fastener structures in which the fastener elements are the coils of a pair of spiral springs, one of such springs being a plain coiled spring while the other spring has a. series of wave-like formations or hooks which are adapted to interlock with the coils of the plain spring to close the fastener structure. Machines for making fastener elements of this type are usually of a complicated nature necessitating an initial large investment for their installation and requiring the services of a skilled mechanic to keep them in order. Furthermore such machines have a relatively slow rate of production due to the fact that a material period of time is utilized more clearly the relation of the operating parts in the upper portion of the machine; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed side view of the upper portion of the machine looking from the left as viewed in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the mechain the cutting of the spirally shaped fastener members to the required length for use in the fastener structures in which they are to be incorporated.

The principal object of provide an improved machine wherein elements of the indicated type may be manufactured quickly and economically.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of forming fastener elements of the indicated type in a substantially continuous operation and ofproducing rapidly at large number of such elements in a predetermined size and in perfect condition.

A further object of th invention is to provide such a machine which will be relatively inexpensive to make and in relatively few in number, individually simple and rugged in construction and adapted in their ascondition to be operated over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical difficulty.

Other objects and advantages of the invention as well as the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of the parts, will become apparent after a perusal of the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention which is particularly adapted for manufacturing the fastener member provided with the wave-like formations or hooks and an embodiment of the invention which is this invention is to particularly adapted for manufacturing the plain g coiled spring fastening member to be associated with the hooked fastening member in the fastener structure.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine which was designed particufastener which the parts will be nism for forming the hooked spiral wire, the section being taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 i Fig. '1 isan enlarged detailed plan view partly in section, of the mechanism for forming the hooked spiral wire; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a wire illustrating the general sequence of operations performed thereon in the formation of the hooked spiral wire locking member; Fig. 9 is a side view of the wire shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a. front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention designed particularly to form the looped spiral wire which is associated with the hooked spiral wire in the fastener structure; Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed side view of the upper portion of the looped wire machine looking from the left as viewed in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail showing in vertical section the mechanism for feeding and forming the looped spiral wire; Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail in longitudinal section illustrating the arrangement of the parts for feeding the wire to the forming die and Fig. 14 is an enlarged detailed plan view of the mechanism for forming the looped spiral wire.

The disclosure of the invention will probably be facilitated by first generally referring to the construction of the article which is the product of the machines disclosed herein. This article,

7 as can be seen from Fig. 3 of the drawings, comprises a pair of flexible tapes or stringers l and 2, to the opposed edges of which are attached a hooked spiral wire 3 and .a. plain spiral wire I. The hooked spiral wire 3 is formed to provide a series of spirally arranged wave-like formations or hooks 5 which are adapted to interlock with the spirally arranged loops 6-of the plain wire 4 to close the fastener structure, as is shown in the lower portion of such figure. The interlocking of the members 3 and 4 is controlledby a slider I which is slidably moimted on such members and may be operated manually in one direction to cause interlocking engagement of the hooks 5 1 to 7 of the drawings. which, as has been previously mentioned, was designed particularly to make the hooked spiral wire 2, there is provided a table .III which is supported on a pair of side frame members II and i2. Beneath the table II there is positioned the main shaft ii of the 10 machine which is rotatably supported at one end by a bearing block I! mounted on the side frame member II and rotatably supported adjacentdts other end by a bearing block I4 provided on the side frame member l2. The end of the shaft 15,

extending through the bearing block I4, is provided with a pulley IS on which is mounted a belt H which connects such pulley to a pulley i4 mounted on the end of a motor shaft I. The

motor 2|) is supported on the side frame member l2 in any suitable manner and means (not shown) are also provided to connect such motor to a source of current and to control the operation thereof.

Means are provided for transmitting the rotative movement of the shaft ii to the various opcrating mechanisms utilized in the manufacture of the hooked spiral wire member of the fastener structure, such means including a clutchmember 2| which is connected to the shaft I! by means of a key 22 to enable it to partake of the rotative movement of the shaft while yet enabling it to be shifted longitudinally with respect to such shaft, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The clutch member 2| is provided with friction the position shown in Fig. 1 to the pofltion shown material 23 which engages with friction material provided on the opposed face of a clutch plate 24 rotatably mounted on the shaft IS. The clutch member 2| is normally maintained in driving re-' lationwith the clutch plate 24 by means of a compression spring 25 which encircles the shaft l5 and bears at one end against the clutch member 2| and at its other end against a sprocket wheel 28 ailixed to the shaft |5. Connected to the clutch plate 24, asby means of a plurality of horizontally disposed bolts 28, is a bevel gear 21 whose interior surfaces in part bear against a collar provided on the clutch plate 24 and in part are rotatably supported onthe reduced end of an gning or bearing' collar 29 mounted on the5g shaft IS. The coasting positions of the clutch plate 24, bevel gear 2'1, and bearing collar 29 are maintained by, means of a collar 30 positioned adjacent to the bearing collar 29 and aflixed to the shaft l5 and a bushing 3| positioned inter- .5'5

mediate the clutch members 2i and 24 and secured to the shaft 5 in any suitable manner such as by a set screw. The gear 21 meshes with a bevel gear 32 which is mounted on the lower end of a depending. shaft 33. the latter of which extends upwardly through the horizontally disposed arms of a roller bracket 35; Intermediate the arms of the bracket 35 and fixedly secured to the shaft 23, is a roller "which is provided at its lower end with a spur gear 26 adapted to mesh swivel block 64 (see Figs. 1. and 2).

connected at one end to the swivel block 44 is an.

connected at its other 44 which is positioned adjacent to'th'e roller bracket 25 and connected thereto by means of a horizontally disposed plate 45 (see P18. '1)- Provided on the upper end of the roller 24 is a kinking gear 4| which cooperates with a kinking gear 42,

' provided on the upper end of the roller to prointo spiral form, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the .i,

rotative movement of the shaft I I will be transmitted to the kinking gears 4| and 42 through the clutch mechanism described, the bevel gears 21 and 32, shaft 23 and spur gears 28 and 31 provided on the rollers 24 and 24. It will also appear that such rotative movement can be made intermittent by a proper operation and control of the clutch mechanism as will hereinafter be more fully explained. The rotstive movement of the shaft i5 is also transmitted to a shaft 41 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which is rotatably supported on a pair of spaced standards 44 and 4!. The shafts l5 and 41 are connected by a chain 45 which is supported at one end on the sprocket wheel 24 mounted on the shaft l5 and is supported at its other end by a sprocket wheel 44 provided on the right-hand end of the shaft 41, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Intermediate the bearing standdrds 42 and 49 there is provided on the shaft 41, a sprocket wheel 54 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which carries a chain ii, the lower end of such a chain passing around an idler sprocket wheel 52. The idler wheel 52 is rotatably mounted on an axle member 52 which is provided at one end with a hand wheel 44 and at its other end extends through a chain-adjusting channel 50 and a clamp 55, the shank of such member being threaded and being in threaded engagement with the clamp 55. Thus by operating the handwheel 54, the sprocket wheel 52 may be adjusted from in Fig. 2 or any other position desired to take care of varying lengths of fasteners, as will hereinafter become more clear. The chain adjusting channel 56 is suitably supported at its upper end to the underside of the table I! and braced at its lower end by means of a brace 51 which is attached to the side frame member H as is shown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The chain Si is provided at spaced intervals with a plurality of trip or knocker links 58 which are formed to interengage with a knocker plate 59 in the movements of the chain around the sprocket wheel 50. As is shown more clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the knocker plate 5! is mounted on the rear end of a'rocker arm 6|! which is pivotally mounted adjacent its forward end on a pin 6| fixedly secured to the roller bracket 35 (compare Fig. 4) The rocker arm 58 normally rests on a stop member 8| provided on the table of the machine, as is shown in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings, but may be lifted about the pin 5] by the engagement of a knocker link 54 with the knocker'plate 5! to the position shown in dotted outline in such figure. The forward end of the rocker mm 60 is fork-shaped, the lower arm 82 of the fork being in engagement with the upper end of a shifting arm or rod '42 which extends downwardly through an aperture in the table VII and at'its lower end is provided with a Pivotaliy.

The clutch lever 6a is divided adjacent its upper end to form a clutch fork or strap I (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) provided with means for engaging a groove in the clutch member 2|.

The upper arm H of the forked end of the rocker' arm 60 is provided with a knife or blade I2 whose cutting edge moves or wipes across the exit end of a passageway I!!! provided in a cutting die I02 (see Figs. 1 and 7) when the rocker arm 60 is lifted by the engagement of a knocker link 58 with the knocker plate 59.

It will be evident from the foregoing description of the mechanism associated with the shaft 41, that as the sprocket wheel'50 is rotated by the shaft l5, through sprocket wheel 26, chain 45, sprocket wheel 66 and shaft 51, the chain will be moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5 of the drawings. As each of the trip or knocker links 58 of the chain 5| comes into engagement with the lower end of the knocker plate 59, the latter, together with the rocker arm the clutch plate 2t. As a result of this operation the-bevel gears 21 and 32 and consequently the kinking gears ti and 42 are disengaged from their driving relation with the shaft Hi. In order that the rotative movement of the kinking gears 4| and 42 may be stopped as soon as the clutch member 2| is disengaged from the clutch'plate 24, a brake 82 (see Fig. 4) is brought into engagement with the clutch member 2a to prevent it from over nning after its disengagement from the clutch member 2|. The brake 82 is carriedby a brake arm 13 which is pivotally supported at its rear end to a swivel bracket 14 attached to the under surface of the table Hi, as is shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and is connected at its forward end by means of a link 15 to a brake arm lever 16, the latter of which is secured at one end to the side frame member I! and at its other end is provided with an opening through which the shifting arm or rod 63 extends. The apertured end of the brake arm lever 15 is normally maintained against a shoul der 18 formed on the shifting rod 63 by means of a coiled spring 80 which surrounds the rod 63 and whose upper end is seated against a shoulder 19 provided in spaced relation abovethe shoulder I8. Thus, as soon as the shifting arm 55 is depressed as a result of the pivotal actions of the knocker plate 59 and rocker arm 60, the brake arm lever 16 is pressed down by the resilient connection of the spring 80 to such arm 63 and in turn through the link 15 causes the brake arm 13 to be pivoted downwardly to bring the brake shoe 82 carried thereby into engagement with the clutch plate 25. The clutch plate 24 and consequently the kinking gears 4| and 42 are therefore immediatelystopped in their rotative movements as soon as the, clutch disengages the driving action of the shaft I5 from such kinking gears. It will thus be seen that the kinking gears rota'te intermittently for a period depending upon the spaces such links causethe actuation of the clutch mechanism, braking means are immediately called into vided at the rear of the machine or otherwise suitably disposed with relation to the machine.

The wire is passed forwardly in its feed to the kinking gears through a guide M which is carried by the plate 8% connecting the roller brackets 35 and 4|) and adapted to direct such wire 138-;

tween the kinking gears" d! and 62, as is shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and '1 of the drawings. During its passage between the kinking gears 4| and 42, the wire is givena'Wave-like formation,

-the distorted wire being then passed to a die member adapted to give it a spiral form. The several operations which are performed on the wire can best be seen from the showing in Figs. 8

and 9 of the drawings. Referring to such figures, the straight portion of the wire which has been subjected to the action of the kinking rollers ti and ex is indicated by the reference character 85 while that portion of the wire which has been subjected to the action of the kinking rollers but has not as yet been formed into a spiral form is indicated by the reference character 9|}. It will be noted from these figures that as a result of the kinking operation the wire is deformed in one plane only, ,such' plane beingparallel to the horizontal surfaces of the table and the wire is given a sinuous form. The kinked portion 9|! of the wire is then bent at right angles to the plane of the wave-like formations and at the same time is formed into a spiral wire of such diameter that each spiral thereof includes three complete kinks or waves, the kinks or waves of each spiral being aligned in rows with the kinks or waves of the other spirals to form a longitudinal series of hooks 5 which are positioned in spaced relation about the periphery of the formed spiral wire as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 8 and 9 of the I drawings. Thus there are three series of hooks 5 on the fastening member 3 by which it may be interlocked with the loops of the plain spiral wire 4 Referring back to Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings, the kinked portion of the wire, which emerges from the kinking gears 4| and 42 is fed by the latter through a, suitable guide 9| which is secured at its forward end to a block 92, mounted on a clamp 93 which is supported in any suitable manner on a die bed 96 carried by the table I0. Positioned in cooperative relation with the forward end of the guide 9| is a die 95 provided with a channel or elongated opening 96 through which extends the die member 91. The die member 91 may be adjusted longitudinally in the die 95 and is maintained in its adjusted position by means of a set screw 98. The portion 99 of the die member which lies in the path of the exit or forward end of the guide 9| is tapered in form to control the diameter of the spiral coil to be formed and is :provided with a spiral thread. As the kinked 3 portion 90 of the wire is fed to the portion 99 of between thetrip links 58 and that as soon as the die member under the influence of the kinking gears 4| and 42, it is forcedaround such portion by the action of the-adjacent interior surface portions of the channel 96 and given a spiral form, the tapered spiral portion 99 directing the spiralled'wire towards thereduced end portion I" of the'die member 91. After passing from the die 95. the spiralled wire enters the aligned passageway of a cutting die I02 and, as it emerges from such passageway, is cut to the desired length by the intermittent operation of the blade 12, as has been previously explained. It will be evident from the foregoing descriptio of the machine for forming the hooked spiral wire that it is,composed of parts which are relatively simple and rugged in construction and will be relatively inexpensive to make. The machine in its operations produces the desired fastener elements quite rapidly, the wire being fed and formed into hooked spiral form in a continuous manner except for the intermittent interruptions in the feed'to enable the formed wire to be cut to the proper length. The interruptions in the feed of the wire are only momentary in nature and do not continue for an appreciable period as have the interruptions in prior machines for cutting spiral-formed wire. The wire, as has been previously described, is fed forwardly from a coil or roll to the forming die 95 by the kinking gears 4| and 42 which are driven from the main shaft I 5 of the machine through the clutch members 2| and 24, beveled gears 21 and 92, shaft 33 and spur gears 36 and 31 provided on the rollers 34- and 38. The wire fed by the kinking gears enters the die 95 through an aperture aligned with the guide 9| and passes into the'passageway 96 of the forming die where it is forced around the portion 99 of the die member'9'l by the feed of the kinking gears'and the action of the adjacent interior surface portions of the channel or passageway 96 and given a spiral form, thetapered spiral portion 99 of the die member directing the spiral wire towards the reduced end portion |09 of the die member 91 and out of the die. After passing from the die 95 the spiral wire enters the aligned passageway |0| bf'the spaced cutting die I92 and as it emerges from-,such passageway the spiral wire is cut to the desired lengths by the intermittently operating blade-12 which is mounted at the forward end of the rocker arm 60. The means for imparting intermittent operation to the blade 12 and rocker arm 60 includes the sprocket wheel 26 mounted on shaft l5, chain 45 and sprocket wheel 46 which transfer the rotative movements of the shaft l5 to the shaft 41 and a sprocket wheel 50 mounted on such shaft. 1 The rotation of sprocket wheel 50 causes .the knocker links 58 on chain 5| to intermittently come into engagement with and to raise the inner end of the rocker arm 80. The sharp blow imparted to the inner end of the rocker arm 50 by a link 58 depresses the forward end of such arm and causes the blade mounted on the latter to wipe past the aperture H in the cutting die I02 and thereby sever the length of coiled spring extending from such die. At the same time the rod 69 mounted on the forked portion 62 of the forward end of the rocker arm 60 is depressed to move the block 64 downwardly thereby causing the pivoted arm 99 through the link 61 to move the clutch member 2| out of engagement with the clutch member 24 thereby breaking the driving connection between the shaft l5 and the kinking gears 4| and 42. On

A the return of the rocker arm 60 to its normal at rest position, the clutch mechanism again becomes operative to again cause the kinking gears 4| and 42 to resume their feed of the wire to the coiling mechanism and likewise to the cutting die I92. These series of operations are repeated every time a link 59 of the continuously driven chain 5| comes into engagement with the inner end of rocker arm 69 and strikes the latter out of its path.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in viously described embodiment also, this machine includes a. pulley wheel I'l' attached to the-motor shaft l9 and connected to a driven pulley wheel IS on the main drive shaft l5 of the machine by means of a belt l'l', whereby rotative movement is imparted to the shaft |I'. Also the rotative movement of the shaft It is transmitted to 'a sprocket wheel ll through a sprocket wheel 26' inounted on shaft Ii, chain 45', sprocket wheel chain 5| which at its lower end is connected to an idler sprocket wheel 52' adjustably mounted on the chain-adjusting channel it which is attached at its upper end to the under 'side of the table I0 and is made rigid against sidewise movement by the brace 51' connecting its lower end to the side frame member I I. 5|, includes a plurality of spaced trip or knocker links 59 adapted to come into engagement with a knocker plate 99' mounted onthe rear end of a rocker arm 69 which is pivotally mounted adiacent its forward end and normally rests on a stop arm 8| provided on the table N of the machine, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 11 of the drawings. As in the first embodiment, the raising of the knocker plate 59' and rocker arm 69' causes a knlfeblade 12' provided on the forwardly projecting end H of the rocker arm 60' to wipe across'the exit end of a passageway |0|' provided in a cutting die "12'.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this embodiment of the invention is similar to the previously described embodiment in that the rotative movements of the main shaft are utilized to drive a chain provided with trip links to actuate a rocker arm on the forward end of which is provided a blade adapted to cooperate with the.

cutting die to cut off predetermined lengths of the spiral wire formed by the machine. This embodiment differs from the previously described machine however, in that the rocker arm assembly does not control clutch mechanism for intermittently disconnecting a set of kinking gears from the main shaft and simultaneously braking the rotating movements of such kinking gears to bring them to rest as soon as they are disconnected from the driving action of the main 'shaft.

The means for feeding the wire to the forming members and for'interrupting the feed of the wire during the cutting operation in this embodiment of the invention is shown more clearly in Figs. 10, 12 and 13 of the drawings. These means include the main shaft l5 which is rotatably supported on the bearing standards 49' and H9 above the the shaft portion extends through the hub like portion 4 of rocker arm 60' which is rotatably supported thereon and which is provided with a cam member III (see Figs. 11 and 13).

Mounted on the shaft portion HI, intermediate Chain 5|, like chain the standards In and us, is a roller us which is reduced in cross sectional dimensions adjacent to the standard H3. The roller H6 is secured to the shaft portion I I I as by means of a set screw and carries on its reduced end portion a' set of spur gear teeth I I1. Meshing with the spur gear teeth III are spur gear teeth H9 provided on the reduced end of a roller H9 which overlies the roller I I6. The roller H9 is fixed to a floating pin I20 which extends through vertical slots I2I and I22 provided in the standards H2 and H3, respectively, .and carries on its outer end a cam roller I23 which engages with the cam member I I5. Normally the cam roller I23 and the cam member H are in the positions shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings with the roller I23 fully seated on the arcuately shaped surface of the member H5. When the rocker arm 60', however, is thrown upwardly about the shaft portion I H as a pivot the cam member I I5 causes the cam roller I23 to, be lifted, thereby tilting the floating pin I20 about One end, as is shown in Fig. 13 of the' drawings. In the normal condition of the cam roller I23 and the cam member H5, the enlarged portion of the roller H9 is maintained in engagement with the enlarged portion of the roller I I6 by means of a pair of spring pressed blocks I24 and I25 which are slidably mounted in the vertical slots I2I and I22, respectively. As is shown more clearly in Fig. 13 of the drawings, the slide block I25 is provided with an aperture through which the head end of the pin I20 extends, such block being maintained in position in its associated slot I22 by means of the head I26 of the pin I20 and the reduced end of the roller II9. Seated on the upper end of the block I25 is a coiled spring I21 whlchat its upper end engages a spring seat I28 provided on the undersurface of a cross plate I29- spanning the upper ends of the standards H2 and H3 and being fixedly attached thereto. The block I 24 is positioned in the slot I2l intermediate the roller II 9 and the cam roller I23 and is provided with an arcuately shaped bottom surface which bears on the portion of the pin I20 which extends through the slot I2I. The-block I24 is maintained in engagement with' the pin I20 by means ofa vertically disposed coiled spring I30 whose upper end engages a spring seat I3I provided on the adjacent end of the cross plate I29.

It will become evident from the foregoing description of the feeding and feed interrupting means that the rotational movement imparted to the roller I I6 by the shaft I5 is utilized through the gear teeth I I1 and H8 to rotate the roller H9, the latter of which is normally pressed into engagement with the roller H6 by the action of the spring pressed blocks I24 and I25 on the pin I20. The rollers H6 and H9 are thus enabled to function as a means for feeding the wire to the mechanism for forming it into a spiralspring. As the chain 5I travels, the trip or knocker links 53' thereof are periodically brought into engagement with the knocker plate 59' thereby intermittently lifting the rocker shaft 60' and causing the'icam member H5 on the hub-like portion H4 thereof to intermittently lift cam roller I23 on the end of pin I20 against the pressure of the spring pressed blocks I24 and I25 to tilt the pin a sumcient amount to break or to stop the frictional As soon I24 and I25 the floating pin I20 will again be in a position to bring the rollers H6 and 'I I9 into a condition where they can again frictionally engage the wire to feed it forwardly to the spiral forming mechanism.

The wire is passed from a source of supply at the rear of the machine to the feed rollers H6 and I I9 through a guide I32 which is mounted on a plate I33 secured to the rear surfaces of the standard I24, as isshownmore clearly in Fig. 12 of the drawings. After the wire has passed the feed rollers H6 and H9, it enters into a guide I 34 (see Figs. 12 and 14) which delivers the wire to the spiral forming mechanism consisting of a die member I35 and a cooperating die wheel I36. The die member I35 is an elongated cylindrically shaped piece of metal which extends through a passageway in a cylindrically shaped block I31 and is adjustably secured to said block as by means of a set screw I38. The cylindrical block I 31 is positioned in a longitudinal aperture provided in a supporting block I 39 and is adjustably secured in place by means of a set screw I40. The diewheel I36 ls revolvably mounted on the rear end of a supporting arm I4I which extends through a transverse passage in a cylindrically shaped block I42 and is adjustably secured thereto as by means of a set screw I43. The block I42, like the block I3'I, extends through an opening in the supporting block I39 and is adjustably secured in position as by means of a set screw I44.

The end of the die member'l35 disposed in front of the guide I34 is reduced in cross-sectional area to provide a. tapered portion I45 over which the wire is directed by the guide I34 into thespace formed between such portion and the concaved face provided on the periphery of the die pulley I36 .as will be seen from Fig. 14 of the drawings. As the wire passes between the tapered portion I 45 of the die member I35 and the concaved face of the freely rotating pulley I36 it is bent into a spiral shape. As the wire is bent it enters into spiral-shaped spaces formed by the spiral thread I46 provided on the outer end portion of the die member I35 adjacent to the forming surface portion I 45 thereof which operates to correctly space the coils of the spiral wire and to feed the formed spiral wire, under the feeding force of the rollers H6 and H3, into the passageway IOI' of the cutting die I02. As the formed spiral wire emerges from the cutting die I02, it is cut into predetermined lengths by the action of the cutting blade I2 under the influence of the tripping links 58, knocker plate 59 and rocker arm 60', as has been previously explained. The feed of the feeding rollers H6 and H9 is momentarily disrupted during these cutting operations as has also been pointed out.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings specific embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes in the particular construction and arrangement of the several parts may be made without departing from the invention.

I claim: I

1. In a machine for making fastener elements,/ thecombination of means for producing a series of wave-like formations in a wire and for feedihg the wire forwardly through forming mechanism and to cutting means, mechanism including a stationary die member associated with said feeding means for forming the waved wire fed therefrom around said die member and into a coiled spiral shape and adapted to direct the coiled wire in a direction transverse to the line of feed of the waved wire, cutting means spaced from said spiral forming mechanism, means for actuating said cutting means at predetermined intervals to cut the coiled wire into predetermined lengths and means for rendering said first mentioned means 7 momentarily inoperative to deform and feed the wire during the cutting operation.

2. In a machine for making'fastener elements, the combination of a revolvable shaft, a pair of kinking gears driven by said shaft and adapted to produce a series of wave-like formations in a forming mechanism including a pivoted arm, a cutting blade carried by said arm, means for striking said arm at predetermined intervals to cause said blade to cut the coiled wire into predetermined lengths, and feed control means connecting said pivoted arm with said feeding means and actuatable by said arm in its pivotal movements to momentarily interrupt the feed of said wireand to feed the wire forwardly through formrendering said kinking gears momentarily inoperative to deform and feed the wire during the cutting operation. g

3. In a machine for making fastener elements. the combination of a revolvable shaft, a pair of revolvably mounted kinking gears arranged to produce aseries of wave-like formations in a wire and to feed the waved wire, means connecting one of said kinking gears in driven relation to said revolvable shaft and in driving relation to the other of said kinking gears, mechanism associated with said kinking gears for forming the waved wire fed therefrom into a coiled spiral shape, cutting means associated with ,said spiral-forming mechanism, means for actuating said cutting means at predetermined intervals to cut the coiled wire into predetermined lengths and means controlled'by said actuating means for momentarily breaking the driven relation of said firstmentioned kinking gear with said revolvable shaft during the cutting action of said cutting means whereby said kinking gears are rendered inoperative to deform and feed the wire during the cutting operation.

4. The combination or a revolvable shaft, a

pair of revolvable means driven by said shaft and adapted to continuously feed a wire forwardly said revolvable means and said actuating means and operable by the latter to momentarily disconnect said revolvable means from its driven relation with said shaft and thereby render it inoperative to feed the wire during the cutting operation.

5. The combination of a revolvable shaft, means driven by a shaft for feeding a wire through forming mechanism and to cutting .means, mechanism including a stationary die member for forming the wire fed by said feeding f means around said die member and into a spiral form, cutting means associated with said spiral 75 feeding means during the cutting stroke of said blade.

6. The combination 'of a revolvable shaft, means driven by said shaft for feeding a wire through forming mechanism and to cutting means, mechanism including a stationary die member for forming the wire fed by said feeding means around said die member and into a spiral form, cutting means associated'with said spiral forming mechanism including a pivoted arm, a blade carried by said arm, a constantly rotating chain driven by said revolvable shaft, a plurality of trip links provided on said chain and adapted to strike said pivoted arm at predetermined intervals to cause said blade to cut the coiled wire-into predetermined lengths, and feed control means carried by said arm and operatively connected to said feeding means, said feed con-' trol means being operative on each pivotal movement of said arm caused by said trip links to momentarily interrupt the feed of said feeding y 1 one end of said arm and a cutting blade mounted on the other end thereof and being operatively rotating chain driven-by said revolvable shaft and carrying a plurality of trip links adapted to engage said knocker plate at predetermined intervals to cause said blade to coact with said 1 die to cut the coiled wire into predetermined lengths, and means for momentarily interrupting the feed of said feeding means during the cutting stroke of said blade.

8. The combination of a revolvable shaft, means driven by said shaft for feeding a wire through forming mechanism and to cutting means, mechanism including a stationary die member for forming the wire fed by said feeding means around said die member and into a spiral form, cutting means associated with said spiral forming mechanism including a pivoted arm, a cutting blade carried by said arm, means for striking said arm at predetermined intervals to cause said blade to cut the coiled wire into predetermined lengths and means controlled by said pivoted arm for rendering said feeding means momentarily inoperative to feed the wire during the cutting stroke of said blade.

9. The combination of a revolvable shaft, means for feeding a wire driven by said shaft, clutch mechanism intermediate said shaft and feeding means, mechanism for forming the wire fed by said feeding means into a spiral form, a cutting means associated with said spiral forming mechanism, means for actuating said cutting means at predetermined intervals to cut the coiled wire into prede rmined lengths, and means controlled by said tuating means for operating said clutch mechanism to disengage associated with said cutting die, a constantly said feeding means from their driven relation with said shaft during the cutting operation.

10. The combination of a revolvable shaft, means for feeding a wire driven by said shaft, clutch mechanism intermediate said shaft and feeding means, mechanism for forming the wire fed by said feeding means into a spiral form, a cutting die adapted to receive the spirally formed wire, a pivoted arm, a knife carried by said arm adapted to coact with said cutting die to sever the spiral wire, tripping means adapted to actuate said pivoted arm at predetermined intervals to cause said arm to make a cutting stroke and means connecting said pivoted arm with said clutch mechanism and adapted to render the latter inoperative to impart the driving action of said shaft to said feeding means every time said pivoted arm is actuated to cause said knife to make a cutting stroke.

1,1. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said connecting means comprises an actuating rod connected to said pivoted arm and movable by the latter, and a clutch lever connected with said clutch mechanism and said actuating rod and adapted to disengage said clutch mechanism every time it is actuated by said rod during the cutting stroke of the knife.

12. The combination of a revolvable shaft,

, means for feeding a wire'driven by said shaft,

mechanism including a stationary die member for forming the wire fed by said feeding means around said die member and into a spiral form,

' cutting means spaced from said spiral forming 'rotative movements of such feeding means during such period.

13. The combination defined in claim 9 in which is included a brake adapted to engage with a rotating member of said clutch mechanism, and means connecting said brake with said actuating means and adapted to press said brake into engagement with the rotating clutch member when said actuating means operates to render said clutch mechanism inoperative.

14. The combination of a revolvable shaft, means for feeding a wire driven by said shaft, a die member extending transversely to the path of feed of the wire and comprising a tapered section provided with a spiral thread, a die surface surrounding said tapered section and adapted to coact with the latter to form the wire into aspiral shape, means for guiding the wire intermediate said tapered section and said .die

surface, cutting means associated with said spiral forming means, means for actuating said cutting means at predetermined intervals to cut the spiral wire into predetermined lengths, and

means for momentarily interrupting the feed of i said feeding means during the cutting operation.

15. The combination of a revolvable shaft,

means for feeding a wiredriven by said shaft, a die block having a passageway extending transversely to the path of feed of the wire, a die member positioned in such passageway and having a tapered portion provided with a spiral thread and adapted to coact with the' adjacent interior surfaces of the passageway to form the wire into a spiral shape andto feed the shaped wire in a direction at right angles to the direction .of feed of said feeding means, means for guiding the wire from said feeding means to said die block, a cutting die adapted to receive the wire fed from said die block, a pivoted knife associated with said cutting die, means for actuating said knife at predetermined intervals to cause said knife and cutting die to cut the spiral wire into predetermined lengths, and means controlled by said actuating means for momentarily interrupting the feed of said feeding means during the cutting stroke of said knife.

16. The combination of a revolvable shaft, a feedroller mounted on said shaft, a floating roller associated with said feed roller, yieldable means normally maintaining said floating roller in position with respect to said feed roller to enable said rollers to feed a wire, means drivingly connecting said floating roller to said shaft, a cam member connected to said floating roller, a cam member on said shaft adapted to coact with the cam member of said floating roller to withdraw said floating roller from operative association with said feed roller against the pressure of said yieldable means, mechanism for forming a wire fed by said feed and floating rollers into a spiral form, cutting means associated with said spiral forming mechanism, and means for actuating said cutting means when said cam members have rendered the feed and floating rollers inoperative to feed the wire.

' 1'7. The combination called for in claim 16 in which each of said rollers is provided at one end with a set of gear teeth engaged in driving connection with the set of gear teeth of the other roller and said cam members are positioned adjacent to the other ends of said rollers, whereby said floating roller is tilted by said cam members to render such rollers inoperative to feed the wire without disengaging the sets of gear teeth at the other ends of said rollers.

18. The combination of a revolvable shaft, means for feeding a wire driven by said shaft, a die member extending transversely to the path of feed of the wire and comprising a fixed wire shaping surface, a freely revolving die wheel associated with said surface and adapted to coact with the latter to bend the wire fed by said feeding means, means for guiding the wire intermediate said shaping surface and said die wheel, said die member being provided adjacent to said surface with a spiral groove adapted to receive the bent wire and form the same into the proper spiral shape, cutting means associated with said 'die member, means for actuating said cutting means at. predetermined intervals to cut the spiral wire into predetermined lengths, and means for momentarily interrupting the feed of said feeding means during the cutting operation.

19. The combination of a revolvable shaft, a feed roller mounted on said shaft, a floating roller associated with said feed roller, yieldable means normally maintaining said floating roller in position with respect to said feed roller to enable said rollers t feed a wire, a cam member connected to said He ting roller, a secondcam member on said shaft adapted to engage with said first cam member, a pivoted arm connected to said second cam member, a cutting blade carried by said cam and means for striking said arm at predetermined intervals to cause said blade to be actuated and to cause said second cam member to actuate s. id first cam member to disrupt the feedof said feed and floating rollers.

20. The combination of a revolvable shaft, a

nism, a cutting means including a blade arranged to' wipe across the exit end of the die hole in said cutting die and having a position 'of rest,

and actuating means for causing said blade to wipe past the die hole from its'position of rest, at predetermined intervals, said actuating means including a member mounted for pivotal movement, means operatively connecting said blade 7 to said member, a constantly rotatable chain driven by said revollvable shaft and a trip link provided on said chain and adapted to strike said pivotal member at predetermined intervals to cause said blade to move in its cutting stroke past the die hole in said cutting die;

EDWARD J. CONLIN. 

